Carambola, also known as star fruit, is a tropical Asian fruit with a tangy flavor and crunchy texture. It is grown in Asia, Latin America, California, and Florida. The fruit has five distinct sections arranged around a central axis and is a good source of vitamin C and dietary fiber. It can be eaten plain, added to salads, dressings, or desserts, and is also consumed in the form of juice.
Carambola is a tropical Asian fruit which is also known as star fruit or star fruit. It has a crunchy texture and tangy flavor which makes it popular in salads, desserts and dressings. In addition to the Asian tropics, carambola is also grown in parts of Latin America, where the trees thrive in warm, humid conditions. California and Florida also grow star fruit commercially, in their warmer areas. Many grocery stores carry carambola, as the unusual tropical fruit has a small but dedicated following.
The tree appears to have originated in Sri Lanka and India, and is also grown extensively in Indonesia. A carambola tree can grow up to 10 meters (32 feet), with dense, spreading branches. The leaves are compound and the pink flowers appear scattered on the tree before they mature into the yellowish to brown fruits. The fruit of the carambola tree has five distinct sections arranged around a central axis. When the fruit is cut into chunks or slices, the individual segments strongly resemble stars.
Botanists classify carambola as tropical to subtropical, as more mature trees can handle colder temperatures. Many people grow pole star as a decorative container plant, as the foliage and flowers are quite attractive. You can also move a container plant, which is convenient for people in colder regions since they can keep the plant indoors during the winter when it’s at risk of freezing. Carambola is also very slow growing and can take several years to mature enough to fruit, while container plants rarely fruit as they often don’t have enough room to fully grow.
The five-segmented fruit is a favorite in Asian cuisine due to the tangy and slightly acidic flavor. The sweeter cultivars are rarely very high in sugar, although they may be less mouth-curling. Carambola can be eaten plain, added to a mixed fruit assortment, used in a salad for texture and flavor, diced for a dressing, or incorporated into desserts. The texture reminds many consumers of pears or apples, as it is crunchy and slightly grainy.
Like many acidic fruits, starfruit is an excellent source of vitamin C. Since the skin is also edible, starfruit can provide dietary fiber as well. Some consumers prefer to consume carambola in the form of juice. When selecting star fruit to consume, look for a solid, evenly colored specimen. Carambola crests may be slightly tinged with brown.
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